BreakThru Radio is currently streaming a three part recording of a live performance by beloved Memphis musicians, Ben Nichols (of Lucero) and Cory Branan.

Lucero is known for their rowdy, whiskey-soaked performances, but with Nichols on his own, the songs' innate sentimentality really shine through. As for Branan, he only performs solo, but he seems to have brought some of the wilder elements of his voice into control since I last saw him - resulting in songs that reflect the subtlety of his albums.

Things to listen for:

- Ben Nichols singing back-up on one of Cory Branan's best, "Tall Green Grass".

- During a conversation with Cory a couple years ago, he clued me in that certain portions of the first song Nichols plays are about him.

- A half-decent, half-drunken cover of "Great Balls of Fire".

Here are the links to the 3 parts:

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3